Ireland The
National Anthem

Peadar Kearney wrote the Soldier's Song in 1907, it became widely
known when it was sung at the GPO during the Easter Rising of 1916.
Soon after, it was adopted as the national anthem, replacing God Save
Ireland. The first edition of the song was published in 1916.

In 1934, the Irish state acquired the copyright of the song for the sum of
£1,200
Controversy has surrounded the wording of Amhrán na bhFiann over the
years. In the original translation, the first line read as Sinne
Laochra Gaedheal (we the heroes of Ireland). This has since been
replaced by Sinne Fianna Fáil,(Soldiers are we) which to some
is evidence that the anthem has been hijacked by the Fianna Fáil
party.
In recent years, discussions have taken place about replacing Amhrán na
bhFiann with a new national anthem, arguing that the current wording
is excessively militant and anti-British. Others have argued that
the melody is difficult for bands to play which has occasionally
resulted with problems being witnessed at international events.

The
Irish national anthem consists of the chorus only of
Amhrán na bhFiann and is almost always sung in Irish.

Ireland's
Call Anthem
Has increasingly been sung at all-Ireland sport matches
to represent the whole island of Ireland.

The
population of the island as a whole is just under 6 million(2006),
4.20 million live in the Irish Republic and 1.7 million
live in Northern Ireland.

Ireland is
a parliamentary democracy. The National Parliament
(Oireachtas) consists of the President and two Houses:
Dáil Éireann (the House of Representatives) and Seanad
Éireann (the Senate) Northern Ireland
has a parliamentary monarchy and an electoral democracy.
The voting age is 18 in both parts of Ireland.